Convertible tent.



J. E. GRACE.

CONVERTIBLE TENT..

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1915.

1 204,427. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-gSHEET l.

1. E. GRACE. CONVERTIBLE TENT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1915.

' 1,204,427. Patented Nov; 14, 1916.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"v, 6 lim'z o 20 JAMES E. GRACE, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CONVERTIBLE TENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed July 19, 1915. Serial No. 40,575.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. GRACE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the'county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Tents, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a convertible service tent, and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a tent of greater capacity than those service tents now in use; second, to provide a tent that can be easily and quickly converted into a field litter or stretcher; third, to provide a tent with a single pole formed by a rifle, bayonet, scabbards, or a sectional knock-down rod; fourth, to eliminate guy ropes and form a foldable tent which may be used as receptacles or capes; fifth, a camping tent which economizes in camping, space weight and material, and sixth, to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive tent which is highly efiicient for army purposes.

The above are a few of the objects which I attain by the mechanical construction to be hereinafter referred to and reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tent in a set up position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a center pole formed by a rifle, bayonet and scabbards; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a bayonet attachment and scabbard holder; Fig. 4 is a plan of a portion of the tent, partially folded to form a litter or stretcher; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the tent in the form of a lltter or stretcher; Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of the same; Fig. 7 is a perspective iew of a portion of the tent folded to form a receptacle; Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspectlve view of a portion of the tent illustrating fasteners or buttons; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of modified form of knock-down pole, and Fig. 10 is a plan of a fly which maybe used in connection with a tent.

A convertible service tent in accordance with my invention consists of two halves or foldable members generally designated A and B, and each half comprises a sidesection 1 rectangular in plan, and provided with end sections 2 and 3, which are triangular in plan. At the juncture of the end sections 2 and 3 with the guide sections 1 there are cases or pole Ways 4 and at the lower ends of said cases there are loops 5 adapted to cooperate with loops 6 of the end sections 2 and 3 in receiving tent stakes. Those edges of the sections 1, 2 and 3 devoid of stake loops are provided with buttons 8 and buttonholes 9, whereby the edges of the tent halves or members A and B can be overlapped and buttoned on the outer side and inner side of the tent structure to form practically a water tight connection between the halves or members of the tent.

Either of the end sections 2 or 3 may be used as a door flap for the tent, and in some lnstances a fly 10 may be interposed between the end sections of the halves or members A and B of the tent. This fly section is best shown in Fig. 10 and the greater part of the same is made of netting 11 which permits of the tent being ventilated and excludes mosquitos, flies and other insects. The marginal edges of the fly have buttons and buttonholes-12, and stake loops 13, thus permltting of the fly being quickly and easily installed.

To maintain the tent in a set up position, a single pole cooperates with the loops 6. This pole may be in the form of a rifle 14: provided with a bayonet l5 and a bayonet attachment and scabbard holder 16, which is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bayonet attachment and Scabbard holder has lateral channel arms 17 adapted to receive scabbards 18. Intermediate the arms 17 is a lug 19 against which the pointed end of a bayonet abuts and embracing the bayonet are bayonet engaging arms 20. Besides these arms there are flat clothes supporting arms 21, and when this type of pole is set up to engage under the ridge of the tent, the pole can be used as a clothes tree. The channel arms 17 add rigidity to the bayonet attachment and scabbard holder and with scabbards on the arms 17 the canvas or cloth forming the ridge of the tent is not injured by the pole structure.

Another form of pole is shown in Fig. 9, consisting of a sectional upright 22 provided with a T 23 and lateral arms 24, saidarms and the uprights being preferably in the form of rods that can be easily carried.

In designing my improved convertible service tent, I have carefully considered requirements for mounted and foot branches of army and marine service, and have found that atent which can be used for various purposes is the best equipment. As an in:

stance of two purposes for which my tent may be employed, reference will first be had to F igsd, 5 and 6. One ofthe halves or members of the tent is shown in Fig. A and the end sections 2 and 3 thereof are folded. first upon the line 25, then upon the dotted line 26 and then upon the lines 27. This last fold of the end sections 2 and 3 places the folded end sections in parallelism with the side section 1 and to maintain the folded end sections in this position, said sections have snap hooks 28 adapted to engage in loops 29, as shown in Fig. 6, thus maintaining the folded end sections under the side section 1, whereby poles or rods 30 can be placed in the cases 4 of the side section 1 and this half or member of the tent used as a litter or stretcher.

Since the tent will accommodate four or more soldiers each squad has sufficient equipment for two litters or stretchers which can be pressed into service during heavy engagements and forced retreats to save many that otherwise could not be moved.

A half or member of a tent can also be used as a receptacle or holder for carrying fodder or other material. This form of receptacle or holder is shown in Fig. 7, where it will be observed that the end sections 2 and 3 of a tent half or memher are buttoned together, thus forming a conical holder. A tent half or member may also be used as a cape and can be rolled or folded into any shape desired.

lVith the convertible service tent set up as shown in Fig. 1, provided with drain trenches, and inner earth embankments, it presents a snake and insect proof structure of suflicient rigidity to withstand wind pressure,'and insomuch that guy ropes and the usual form of tent poles are eliminated, it

is possible for one soldier to carry a tent equipment which will accommodate comrades in arms.

While in the drawings, there are illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements are susceptible to such changes in the size, shape and manner of assemblage, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A convertible tent consisting of members adapted to be connected together, each member having aside section and end sections with cases at the juncture of said sections, said end sections being foldable twice on said side sections to present confronting portions centrally'of said side sections, and means adapted for connecting the front portions of the folded end sections to maintain said end sections in parallelism with said side sections.

2. A convertible tent consisting of members adapted to be connected together when said tent is set up, flies adapted for attachment to the confronting edges of said members at the ends thereof, each member having a side section and end sections with cases at the juncture of said sections, said end sections being foldable twice on said side sections to present confronting portions centrally of said side sections, and means adapted for connecting the confronting portions of the folded end sections to maintain said end sections in parallelism with said side sections.

3. A convertible tent consisting of members adapted to be connected together, each member having a side section andend sections with cases at the juncture of said sections whereby said end sections can be folded upon said-side sections and said side sections utilized as a stretcher, and means adapted for connecting the folded end sections when folded against said side sections.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES E. GRACE.

Witnesses ANNA M. Dean, ART UR F. DRAPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

